Dirercted by Melonie Gartner

We follow the story of how Dirke and Emma meet. How it all begins. The prequel to "Two Rivers".

Directed by Melonie Gartner

'Two Rivers' is a psychological short film shot in Two Rivers, Wisconsin starring Mark Borchardt and Melonie Gartner. It's about a destructive relationship between two main characters named Dirke and Emma. The two lost souls that found one another, but don't belong. 'Two Rivers' represents Dirke and Emma - the two separate bodies of water that could never be merged. A love story pushed to the point of no return.

Directed by Melonie Gartner

After making an ultimate decision, a woman sets out on her journey. She soon discovers that the choice made yields a quite unexpected outcome and knocks her world out of kilter. Life is about making choices. Some - one can't undo. The wheel of karma keeps on churning.

Directed by Melonie Gartner

An injured woman with no identity or memory finds herself stranded in a foreign place. As luck would have it, a healer comes to her aid and helps her regain her old self. The heavy burden that she must face is the one buried deep within, which resurfaces with a vengeance.

Directed by Jeff Blankenship

When celebrity psychologist Larry Gatlin returns to his home state of Wisconsin to receive an award for his work fighting the stigma of mental illness, all is not well. An unexpected turn with his estranged sister and personal demons collide, creating a narrative that goes beyond the surface of celebration.

Directed by Rob Darren

Mr. Monette a middle-aged book salesman, picks up a deaf/mute hitchhiker on a desert highway. Monette vents his problems knowing they fall on deaf ears. He rants about his wife's infidelity and embezzlement from her employer. When Monette pulls over to use the bathroom, the hitchhiker disappeared. Monette thinks nothing of it until two days later his wife and lover are found murdered.

A Stephen King Dollar Baby adaptation

Directed by Robert Cochrane

Redemption of the Fall tells the frightening and ultimately inspirational story of a woman who fell four floors from a condominium and her long road back to life.

Directed by Autumn Rennie

It's just another [excruciating] meal for Vienna - until an offer to conquer her greatest fear in 'three simple steps' arrives. Desperate for freedom from her fear of eating, Vienna takes the offer up - only to realize she bit off far more than she can chew... As Vienna is taken through these three escalating steps to conquer her fear, she also discovers just how resilient she is, ultimately fighting anorexia back in the most defiant way possible: by reclaiming her autonomy in eating.

Directed by Paul Gato

In this raw and introspective documentary, a young woman reflects on her tumultuous struggles with mental health marked by bipolar and borderline personality disorder. Growing up feeling different and disconnected, she navigates a world where she never quite fit in, leading her to rebel and self-medicate through drugs. Her brushes with the law, incarceration and episodes of attempted suicide reveal a profound sense of isolation and desperation. She discovers a path to mental well being through therapy, ultimately finding empowerment in music and a renewed sense of purpose.

Directed by Dario Van Vree

When illustrator Maya suffers a burnout, she is faced with her deepest fear: she can no longer be perfect. In a personal quest, through much trial and error, she learns how to be 'good enough' instead.

Directed by Alyssa Anderson

An animated story of two lonely strangers: a stranded extraterrestrial pilot from the future, and an elderly widower from the past. One day, their TV signals mysteriously align, allowing them to connect across time and space.

Directed by Erin McCluskey

Absent of Me” is a short documentary that offers a look into the lives of nine individuals across five U.S. states and three countries who live with a little-known mental health condition known as depersonalization disorder. With expert insight from medical writer Jeffrey Abugel, audiences will gain a clearer understanding of this largely unknown and under-researched condition.

By Allysa Anderson

When an anxious girl struggles to fall asleep one night, her swirling thoughts launch her into space where she transforms into an astronaut. Impending doom looms ahead... Can she steer her spaceship to safety? 

Directed By Diane Kaufman, MD

How do we cope and what do we do when physical and emotional pain, obstacles, and hardship block our way forward? This "dark night of the soul" journey is powerfully depicted in the "Marble Me Free" animated film.

Directed by Diane Kaufman, MD

“Hold On To Tomorrow” with its healing words, imagery, and music beautifully raises awareness of 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number) and with compassion opens conversation on youth mental health. The video is meant to be shared and can easily be used by schools, mental health services, and community settings as an introduction to discussion on mental health, suicide risk factors and prevention, and resource sharing. The music video highlights the powerful contribution the arts can make in mental health care communication, and promotion. It is an outreach of the Hold On Campaign for Suicide Prevention that uses the power of art to educate, connect, express, and heal. To learn more, please

Directed by Jordan Schroeder

A newly-widowed mother must cope with being the sole caregiver of her disabled, teenage son.

Directed by Will Keizer

Directed by Tecoya Harris

Haunted by his past, Aaron abruptly wakes up in an inpatient mental facility. Following his daily routine, Aaron participates in his one-on-one therapy session, where he is encouraged to face his past traumas and navigate his triggers to best prepare for his pending release. With an unexpected family member coming to see him, this visit could be the thing to set him back or propel him forward.

Directed by Autumn Libengood

A successful man with the illusion of the perfect life no longer desires to exist. Can life be breathed into him again, or will he remain trapped by his silence?

Directed by Bill Cote

“BRokeN StRangER” introduces us to Marlow on the ledge of a high-rise apartment building as he prepares to jump and commit suicide. His tremendous despair is caused by untreated bipolar disorder. But before he can end his life, Marlow is discovered by a visiting filmmaker, Josh. Their honest interaction reveals that Josh has a good friend, Chase, with the same condition. And that the right medication can transform emotionally crippling mood swings and delusional thoughts into a satisfying and productive future. Marlow is ready to learn more and his life is instantly saved. 

Directed by Samuel Karrow

An uptight man tries to relax with the help of a meditation tape. The harder he tries, the more frustrated he becomes.

Directed by Diane Russel, another mental health warrior filmmaker and Dollar Baby adapter.

A Stephen King Dollar Baby film based on his short story "Luckey Quarter". A woman down on her luck imagines she won a jackpot.

Directed by TJ Hill

The "making of" journey through grief on the road to healing. A healing art and music project in response to the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison Wisconsin on December 16th, 2024

Directed by Sophie Martinez

A girl struggles to fit in at a mental health treatment facility after coming out of a major depressive episode that derails her life.

Directed by Dylan Query

A teenage girl tormented by severe anxiety, depression, and hallucinations, finds herself unable to manage her overwhelming emotions. Escaping into an 80s-inspired altered reality born from obsession, she becomes determined to end her life.

With a six-shooter tucked in her back pocket, she hurtles down this dark destructive path, searching for escape. The angels in her life desperately try to pull her back from the brink, but lurking in the shadows, a sinister beast relentlessly urges her onward, determined to ensure she completes her tragic quest.

Directed by Asger Folmann

Misa Butsuhara's short film, Mimi Goes to Rehab, is a comedy about a therapist and her friend pretending to be drug addicts to escape their lives.

Directed by Sam Sorenson

A woman struggling with finding her place in the world has an unexpected encounter, and discovers a new way to find meaning amidst the chaos of her life.

Directed by Brian Plow

A short documentary, following a young woman and mother who emerges from childhood trauma and addiction, finds resilience and forges a new life for her and her daughter.

Directed by Jason H. Bonner

“Scroll Food” tells the story of Derrick Loomis, quarantining at home alone, absorbing a smorgasbord of social media posts being spread online.

A Film by JB Thompsn and Craig A Knott

Sometimes, the hardest goodbyes are the ones we never get to say.

This short film was made for the festival.

Directed by Bryan Hollendyke

Directed by
Ashlyn Nolan

On the day a girl plans to take her own life, she’s confronted by the very person who sent her spiraling to begin with.